Electrostatic Stoving to Maintain a 'Just Polished' Look

SSK began trading over 30 years ago making metal knobs (the “K” in SSK) for cookers, hi-fi systems and other household goods, but over the years the market has changed and the majority of control knobs are now plastic. During that time SSK has also changed to become a leading manufacturer and supplier of metal electrical wall switch and socket cover plates (the “SS” in SSK). The company makes its cover plates from sheet metal that is sheared to width and cold formed using mechanical presses to produce a range of designs from simple plain cover plates to those with delicate ornate designs around the edges. The company works in a variety of metals but brass, because of its formability and the ease with which it can be polished to a deep finish, is their and their customers’ favourite metal.

Why SSK chose brass:

• Brass is readily cold worked to achieve ornate designs
• Brass can be easily polished to a deep finish
• Brass has an attractive appearance.

Highly polished brass has always had great aesthetic appeal to architects, designers and end users, but maintaining that just polished finish is a challenge. SSK Ltd, working in close collaboration with Indestructible Paints of Birmingham, have risen to that challenge and developed a finish that is invisible to the naked eye but maintains that ‘just finished polished look’ indefinitely. The finish, which is an electrostatic stoving lacquer, is automatically applied by spray gun, wraps around corners, adheres to edges and is cured by infra-red. Infra-red curing, which is not the norm for brass lacquers, not only shortens the curing time (drying time) but gives that elusive good depth of finish and a tough hard wearing surface that is less likely to be damaged in subsequent manufacturing operations and when placed in situ.

So good is the finish that any flaw in the polished brass is visible through the lacquer. SSK Ltd is therefore installing an automatic polishing system that will ensure the highest standards of polishing are guaranteed and fully exploits their new electrostatic stoving lacquer. In conclusion, SSK Ltd and Indestructible Paints Company Ltd have developed a tough lacquered finish that is less susceptible to damage and requires low maintenance, which is ideal for today’s busy life style, while preserving that just polished look that comes only with wrought brass.